York University
Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies
Department of Administrative Studies
Summer S2 2014
COURSE
AP/ADMS3701: DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT
COURSE INSTRUCTOR/CONTACT
Dr. Niru Nirupama, Associate Professor, School of Administrative Studies.
Office: 210A Atkinson
nirupama@yorku.ca
416-736-2100 x 30330
REQUIRED COURSE TEXT / READINGS:
Natural Hazards Analysis - Reducing the Impact of Disasters, Pages 285
Author: John C. Pine
Publisher: CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group
ISBN 978-1-4200-7038-5
EXPANDED COURSE DESCRIPTION
Nearly all emergency planning processes begin with hazard or risk assessment and analysis. Assessment of
hazards, vulnerability and risks are complex subjects – often difficult to apply in practical situations for a
variety of reasons, including lack of understanding and data, different perceptions of vulnerability and risks,
and conflicting social agendas. Understanding the theory behind these issues, appreciating the challenges in
their application, and learning to deal with countless inevitable barriers are crucial to becoming an effective
emergency management professional. This course will explore these issues in depth.
Students (3rd and 4th year) pursuing programs in management; administrative studies; science; engineering;
environmental studies; humanities; geography; psychology; health; law; and fine arts may find this course
particularly enriching due to its applicability and multidisciplinary nature.
ORGANIZATION OF THE COURSE:
The course is divided in eight main topics/chapters. Class discussions and group activities are used in
facilitating learning and understanding of the material. Recent examples of natural and technological disasters
are used to comprehend theoretical concepts and practical relevance.
COURSE LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
On completion of this course, students will have the following knowledge and skills:
 Disaster risk and vulnerability modeling
 Quantitative and qualitative concepts of disaster risk assessment
 Use of specific tools and methods to identify hazards and assess risks and vulnerabilities faced by
communities and institutions
 Skills to comprehend the multi-faceted nature of disaster risks
 Learn to understand the role of community resilience to manage disaster risk
COURSE SCHEDULE:
WEEK
TOPIC(S)
TEXT, RESOURCES,
ASSIGNMENTS
Week 1
Introduction to hazards analysis
Textbook Chapter 1
Week 1
Hazard identification
Textbook Chapter 2
Week 2
Risk analysis: assessing the risks of
natural hazards
Textbook Chapter 5
Week 2
Social, economic, and ecological
vulnerability
Textbook Chapter 6
Week 3
Case study: the 2008 China
earthquake
Documentary posted on
moodle
Case study: Hurricane Katrina -
Documentary will be posted
on moodle
Week 4
MIDTERM EXAM ON CAMPUS
Sat Jul 19, 1-2:30pm
Week 5
Risk communication
Textbook Chapter 7
Week 5
The hazards risk management
process
Textbook Chapter 8
Week 6
Planning for sustainable and disaster Textbook Chapter 9
resilient communities
Week 6
Disaster resilient communities: a new Textbook Chapter 10
hazards risk management framework
Week 3
FINAL EXAM WILL BE HELD DURING THE OFFICIAL EXAM PERIOD
WEIGHTING OF COURSE
Assignment Type
% of Grade Due Date
Midterm
40%
Makeup Midterm
Sat July 19, 1-2:30pm
Duration 1-1/2 hours
Sun July 20, 2-3:30pm
If the midterm is entirely missed, the
final will be cumulative worth 80%.
Participation in
Discussion Board
20%
N/A
Instructions will be posted on moodle
Final Exam
40%
Official Exam Period
Duration 2 hours
RELEVANT UNIVERSITY REGULATIONS
Deferred Exams: Deferred standing may be granted to students who are unable to write their final examination at the
scheduled time or to submit their outstanding course work on the last day of classes. In order to apply for deferred
standing, students must complete a Deferred Standing Agreement (DSA) form and submit their request no later than
five (5) business days from the date of the exam. The request must be properly submitted with supporting
documentation directly to the main office of the School of Administrative Studies (282 Atkinson), NOT to the Course
Director. These requests will be considered on their merit. Students can check the status of their requests by logging in
the link for Status of Deferred Exams Request: http://www.yorku.ca/laps/sas/links.html
Students with approved DSA will be able to write their deferred examination during the School's deferred examination
period. No further extensions of deferred exams shall be granted. The format and covered content of the deferred
examination may be different from that of the originally scheduled examination. The deferred exam may be closed
book, cumulative and comprehensive and may include all subjects/topics of the textbook whether they have been
covered in class or not. Any request for deferred standing on medical grounds must include an Attending Physician's
Statement form; a “Doctor’s Note” will not be accepted.
DSA Form: http://www.registrar.yorku.ca/pdf/deferred_standing_agreement.pdf
Attending Physician's Statement form:
http://www.yorku.ca/laps/council/students/documents/APS.pdf
The deferred exam period for the Summer 2014 term shall be held in the period of September 26, 27, 28, 2014.
Academic Honesty: The School of Administrative Studies considers breaches of the Senate Policy on Academic
Honesty to be serious matters. The Policy on Academic Honesty is an affirmation and clarification for members of the
University of the general obligation to maintain the highest standards of academic honesty. As a clear sense of
academic honesty and responsibility is fundamental to good scholarship, the policy recognizes the general
responsibility of all faculty members to foster acceptable standards of academic conduct and of the student to be
mindful of and abide by such standards. Suspected breaches of academic honesty will be investigated and charges shall
be laid if reasonable and probable grounds exist. Students should review the York Academic Honesty policy for
themselves at:
http://www.yorku.ca/secretariat/policies/document.php?document=69
Students might also wish to review the interactive on-line Tutorial for students on academic integrity, at:
http://www.yorku.ca/tutorial/academic_integrity/
Students must be aware of their rights and responsibilities, for more detail please visit:
http://www.yorku.ca/laps/students/rights.html
Grading Scheme and Feedback Policy: The grading scheme (i.e. kinds and weights of assignments, essays, exams,
etc.) shall be announced, and be available in writing, within the first two weeks of class, and, under normal
circumstances, graded feedback worth at least 15% of the final grade for Fall, Winter or Summer Term, and 30% for
‘full year’ courses offered in the Fall/Winter Term be received by students in all courses prior to the final withdrawal
date from a course without receiving a grade, with the following exceptions:
Note: Under unusual and/or unforeseeable circumstances which disrupt the academic norm, instructors are expected to
provide grading schemes and academic feedback in the spirit of these regulations, as soon as possible. For more
information on the Grading Scheme and Feedback Policy, please visit:
http://www.yorku.ca/secretariat/policies/document.php?document=86
In-Class Tests and Exams - the 20% Rule: For all Undergraduate courses, except those which regularly meet on
Friday evening, on a weekend or are on-line, tests or exams worth more than 20% will not be held in the two weeks
prior to the beginning of the official examination period. For further information on the 20% Rule, please visit:
http://www.yorku.ca/secretariat/policies/document.php?document=141
For further information on examination scheduling please refer to the following:
http://www.registrar.yorku.ca/enrol/dates/index.htm
Reappraisals: Students may, with sufficient academic grounds, request that a final grade in a course be reappraised
(which may mean the review of specific pieces of tangible work). Non-academic grounds are not relevant for grade
reappraisals; in such cases, students are advised to petition to their home Faculty. Students are normally expected to
first contact the course director to discuss the grade received and to request that their tangible work be reviewed.
Tangible work may include written, graphic, digitized, modeled, video recording or audio recording formats, but not
oral work. Students need to be aware that a request for a grade reappraisal may result in the original grade being raised,
lowered or confirmed. For reappraisal procedures and information, please visit the Office of the Registrar site at:
http://www.registrar.yorku.ca/grades/reappraisal/index.htm
Accommodation Procedures: LA&PS students who have experienced a misfortune or who are too ill to attend the
final examination in an ADMS course should not attempt to do so; they must pursue deferred standing. Other students
should contact their home Faculty for information. For further information, please visit:
http://www.registrar.yorku.ca/exams/deferred/index.htm
Religious Accommodation: York University is committed to respecting the religious beliefs and practices of all
members of the community, and making accommodations for observances of special significance to adherents. For
more information on religious accommodation, please visit:
https://w2prod.sis.yorku.ca/Apps/WebObjects/cdm.woa/wa/regobs
Academic Accommodation for Students with Disabilities: The nature and extent of accommodations shall be
consistent with and supportive of the integrity of the curriculum and of the academic standards of programs or courses.
Provided that students have given sufficient notice about their accommodation needs, instructors shall take reasonable
steps to accommodate these needs in a manner consistent with the guidelines established hereunder. For more
information please visit the Disabilities Services website at http://www.yorku.ca/dshub/
York’s disabilities offices and the Registrar’s Office work in partnership to support alternate exam and test
accommodation services for students with disabilities at the Keele campus. For more information on alternate exams
and tests please visit http://www.yorku.ca/altexams/
Please alert the Course Director as soon as possible should you require special accommodation.